Dr. J. Mack Slaughter, an ER doctor and TikTok influencer, has issued a warning to parents about the dangers of picking up their children in certain ways that could lead to a common injury known as “nursemaid’s elbow.” This injury occurs when a ligament slips out of place between the elbow joint and two bones, affecting over 20,000 children per year in the US, with the majority of cases occurring in children between the ages of 1 and 3.
In a video posted on TikTok, Dr. Slaughter demonstrated the three dangerous methods of picking up a child that can result in nursemaid’s elbow. These methods include pulling up on a child’s hand or wrist, swinging a child around by the hands, and pulling a child by the hand or wrist who is pulling away. To avoid causing harm to their child, parents are advised to always pick them up from under the armpits and not by the hands or arms.
Dr. Slaughter humorously demonstrated the dangerous practice of swinging a child around by the arms, noting that parents often think their kids are having a great time until the radial bone in the elbow gets dislocated. He shared a personal anecdote of accidentally giving his own daughter nursemaid’s elbow when he grabbed her wrist to prevent her from falling down the stairs, but was able to pop it back into place.
The video has garnered over 12,000 views and sparked a conversation among viewers who shared their own experiences with nursemaid’s elbow. Many parents admitted to accidentally causing the injury to their children, with one person expressing relief that they were not taken to jail when they took their child to the ER for treatment. Another parent recounted the fear they felt when their child’s shoulder dislocated after being picked up by the wrist.
Commenters commiserated with each other over the scary experience of dealing with nursemaid’s elbow but noted that it is easily fixable once medical professionals intervene. The video serves as a valuable reminder to parents to be mindful of how they pick up and handle their children to prevent unnecessary injuries.
The Post reached out to Dr. Slaughter for additional comment on the importance of proper child-handling techniques to avoid nursemaid’s elbow and other common childhood injuries. Parents are encouraged to prioritize their child’s safety by following the recommended guidelines for picking up and carrying them to prevent accidents and injuries.